When Montana senior center Andrew Strait has a good game it usually means someone else is setting him up for success.
Such was the case in Montana’s victories over Eastern Washington and at Northern Colorado, and Srait was quick to credit Grizzly guards for getting him the ball off of the blocks to spring him to a 20-point night in Montana’s 80-61 win over the Eagles, and 12 points in an 11-point win over the Bears.
His efforts garnered him a co-Big Sky Player of the Week award, an honor with which we heartily agree, even if Montana’s guard combos had a lot to do with the results.
“I think a lot of those buckets I had were uncontested,” said Strait. “The guards did a great job of finding me when I was open and putting the ball right were I needed it, and you know it’s easy when they do that. It makes it easy on me, and
you know they were good looks.”
In the two wins, Strait made 13 of his 16 field goal attempts and six of his eight free throws and took down 21 rebounds total.
But it may have been Strait’s floor game that provided the difference in both games. Strait held Eastern Washington’s go-to player, Kellen Williams, to single-digit scoring until late in the game when the outcome was settled. And over the two games Strait dished out three assists, had three steals and blocked one shot.
The two victories were crucial to the Griz, who had lost two conference games on last-second shots and held solid second-half leads in their other two losses before fading down the stetch.
The slow team start is nothing new for Strait, however.
“Throughout all of this, despite our rough start, we know the season’s young,” said Strait. “We’re really all excited about turning it all around. We did it my sophomore and freshman year and I think it’s still there for the taking.”
The Grizzlies face one of their toughest road tests of the season on Thursday, when they travel to Portland to take on the 11-8 Portland State Vikings, which are 4-2 in conference, with road wins at Sacramento State and Idaho State, but are undefeated at home.
The Vikings’ sizeable frontcourt lineup may present problems for Strait. But the Montana center said the Griz have the ability to produce in other areas.
“You know it’s really nice to play with a group of guys who on any given night any one of them can be the top scorer,” said Strait. “Because it takes the focus off of you and makes the other team’s defense have to be aware of those threats.”
